Monthly Archives: February 2017

The Minnesota Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA MN) is pleased to announce the 2017 Minnesota Planners Conference in Mankato, MN. The conference will take place on September 27-29, 2017, at the Verizon Wireless Convention Center. CONFERENCE THEME – The 2017 Conference Theme is Around the Bend: What’s Next for Planning. Planning is inherently about the future and the unforeseen opportunities and challenges it presents. As changes in politics, demographics, and environment create uncertainty, planners need to be able to adapt and develop innovative solutions. In this year’s theme … Read More

Over at Finance & Commerce, Clare Kennedy writes about the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s (MnDOT) February 2nd launch of a project to explore the use of autonomous buses in Minnesota. Motivated by the potential of autonomous vehicles to improve safety, MnDOT believes it is important to help advance the performance of autonomous vehicles in a climate that is much more varied than the California testing grounds where most research and development is taking place. Get the full story here.

The APA Minnesota Metro Directors are sponsoring a Brown Bag Lunch Event on Friday, February 17th. Mr. James Rojas will present Latino Urbanism and Engagement. Mr. Rojas is one of the few nationally recognized urban planners to examine Latino cultural influences on urban design and sustainability in the US. He has written and lectured extensively on how cultural, social, and economic needs are transforming the American front yard and landscape. He uses this knowledge to help low-income Latinos articulate their voices in the planning process. Mr. Rojas has lectured and … Read More

POLLINATOR POST AN URBAN LAND INSTITUTE – MINNESOTA PERIODIC NEWSLETTER fostering a conversation with MSP community leaders about pollinators #HealthyBeesHealthyCommunities ENDANGERED: RUSTY PATCHED BUMBLE BEE On January 10th, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Rusty Patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinis) as an endangered species. Once common and abundant across the northeast US, this bumble bee’s range has shrunk by 87%. More information found HERE. LET US BE LEADERS: FOLLOW THE 4-POINT POLLINATOR PLEDGE 1. Convert under-utilized land to habitat for increased ecological function & support of pollinator … Read More